Chapter 13
Jalen’s voice boomed across the gathering, silencing the dozens of wolves in the courtyard. All eyes turned to me, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t feel the urge to argue anymore. Instead, my mind drifted back to when he had fallen ill—the same time he had betrayed me.
Jalen had always been frail, prone to bouts of weakness that left him bedridden. But the worst was when he had coughed up blood and collapsed, lying unconscious for three days straight. The pack’s healer had said his life depended on a rare plant—one that was not only expensive but nearly impossible to find. His parents had been distraught, weeping and wringing their hands, while no one could come up with a solution.
In that moment, I had to be the one to stay calm. I spent my life savings and moved into the wilderness for a year, dedicating every day to tracking and harvesting the plant that would save him. It wasn’t just about the pack or duty—it was about him. And now, standing here, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of how much I had given, only to be cast aside.
Chapter 14
During the days when I was consumed by Jalen’s illness, Ariella also endured her share of hardship.
When Jalen’s condition worsened, she would kneel before him, her tears streaming down her face as she cried. She would bring meals from the kitchen, feeding him with her own hands, her actions tender and meticulous. When I returned from the pack training grounds, I had even felt a sense of gratitude toward her for taking care of him in my absence.
Little did I know, their feelings for each other had already blossomed during that time.
I don’t blame Jalen for falling out of love with me. What truly pains me is that, while we were still bound by our mate bond, he betrayed me, secretly entwined with Ariella for three long years. The mate bond, a sacred connection blessed by the Moon Goddess, had become a lie.
The scent of betrayal lingered in the air, sharp and acrid, a bitter reminder of what I had lost. Ariella’s vanilla scent, once just a sister’s scent, now mingled with Jalen’s dominant Alpha aura, a cruel symbol of their union.
I could feel the bond between us fraying, its threads snapping one by one, leaving behind a hollow ache in my chest. My wolf, Athena, whimpered softly in the back of my mind, her pain mirroring my own.
I had trusted him, believed in the bond that was meant to be unbreakable. But now, it was as fragile as glass, shattered by their deceit. The weight of it all pressed down on me, a constant reminder of the love I had lost and the betrayal I had endured.
Yet, even in the midst of my heartbreak, I refused to let it break me. I would rise above this, stronger and more determined than ever. The bond may have been broken, but I would not let it define me.
Athena growled softly, her voice steady in my mind. *We are stronger than this,* she said, her words a quiet reassurance.
And I knew she was right. Together, we would find a way to heal, to move forward, and to reclaim the life that was rightfully ours.
The pain of their betrayal would linger, but it would not hold me back. I would face the future with my head held high, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.
Chapter 15
Dealing with someone like Jalen, indifference is the best approach.
The more heated he becomes, the less I should respond.
Jalen, with his fragile pride, tends to spiral into chaos when ignored, flailing like a desperate rogue.
The Silver Fang Pack’s beta, who’s been managing the gathering, finally steps in, using his alpha tone to firmly urge Jalen and Ariella to leave.
Surrounded by my pack sisters, I’m gently pulled back to my seat.
The event’s program is meant to be dazzling, but after everything that’s happened, I can’t seem to focus.
No matter how captivating the performances, my mind remains unsettled.
One of the girls beside me notices my distraction and tries to lighten the mood, pointing discreetly to a man seated by the waterfall.
“Sofia, look,” she whispers, her voice tinged with excitement. “That’s Reed Palmer, the Gamma hosting this gathering.”
I follow her gaze.
Reed’s features are calm, his presence understated yet commanding, much like the elegant handwriting on the invitation I received.
I’ve always been grateful to him for offering me a space of dignity when I became the pack’s omega.
I want to thank him in person, but I hesitate.
Our earlier confrontation must have been heard by everyone, including him.
I’m not sure where he stands in all of this.
The thought makes me shrink back, my courage wavering.
Yet, as I glance at him again, I can’t help but feel a flicker of hope—that perhaps, in this world of rigid hierarchies and betrayals, there’s still someone who values respect over power.